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This file is for invocations/prayers that are non-denominational,
in an attempt to make them available and acceptable to all Rotarians.
If you have one that might be acceptable, please E-MAIL
it to me. There are still problems with the wording of some, but
we invite you to modify them as necessary for your own use. We
also invite you to carry on a discussion as to what is proper
for all, on the Taranto Mail Lists. The ICUFR Board of Directors
does not endorse any of these invocations, but makes them available
for all.
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2/18/03
Let us bow our heads in prayer:
LORD OF THE UNIVERSE: We use that name for you to remind us that
no matter their denomination, ALL good people are guided by your
spirit.
We remember, creator, that our own Rotary International was chartered
early in the century that recently ended, shortly before the war
called AThe Great War to End All Wars@ began. Sadly, it was not
to end all wars after all . . . there were too many wars in that
last century . . .
But now we look ahead.
We stay focused on the objectives we have for the world: Peace.
Tranquility. A true Brotherhood of Man. Freedom from hunger, from
oppression, from sickness. The freedom to choose our own destinies.
We reaffirm our commitment to our simple Rotary AFour Way Test@
for all we do and support: Is it the truth? Is it fair to all
concerned? Will it build good will and better friendships? Will
it be beneficial to all concerned? In a time when being non-judgmental
is Apolitically correct@, we WILL be judgmental, evaluating our
actions and those of others by this simple extension of your AGolden
Rule@.
We reaffirm our commitment to high ethics in all we do.
And we give thanks for all the blessings, opportunities and responsibilities
that befall us as Rotarians, North Americans, and individuals.
We continue in this new millennium with optimism, renewed energy,
and a commitment to service to you and our fellow men and women.
Please, Lord of the Universe, help us so to serve!
Amen.
Joseph D. Coons Bellingham WA
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2/18/03
Let us Pray. Lord of the Universe: One of your wise ministers
said recently, AYou can judge a person by his checkbook stubs@.
As Rotarians, we are blessed with lives of relative luxury, and
opportunities unknown to many. Help us to review our checkbooks,
and, indeed, the registers of our lives with honesty as we consider
our priorities, and our opportunity to help others. Open our hearts,
and our accounts, to those in need, while still providing us with
appropriate fruits of our own labors. Help us to share not only
our tangible wealth, but also our intangible riches of knowledge,
leadership, and creativity to make our city, our nation, and our
world, a better place filled with the peace and love that you
can bring through us.
Amen
Joseph D. Coons Bellingham WA
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2/18/03
Lord of the Universe, Rotarians world-wide acknowledge your power,
and your expectation that we be of service to mankind.
Let us renew our obligation to fulfill that expectation, just
as the return of spring renews growth in the world around us,
with a new commitment to help others in our community, our nation,
and our world. With the power, influence, and wealth that we as
leaders in this place most certainly have, let us always remember
that these are a blessing from you, and that charity is more fulfilling
than decadence, and the Golden Rule a much richer yardstick than
any bank account.
Amen
Joseph D. Coons Bellingham WA
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2/18/03
An invocation is a traditional prayer for the support, counsel,
or indulgence of an almighty power upon the works of a body of
people such as our Rotary Club. In preparing today's invocation,
I was reminded that several men of science, including Ben Franklin,
Albert Einstein, and Steven Hocking all believe in the presence
of God, particularly as manifested in the remarkable natural order
of the world.
So today I offer this prayer:
Let us bow our heads:
Lord of the Universe, you have given most of mankind a strong
desire to do good, to be honest, to serve others, and to faithfully
fulfill their obligations to their neighbors.
Help us, as Rotarians and humans, to do good.
Help us, as Rotarians and humans, to be honest and ethical in
all our dealings.
Help us, as Rotarians and humans, to serve others.
And help us, as Rotarians and humans, to faithfully fulfill our
obligations as neighbors to our community, our nation, and the
world.
Amen
Joseph D. Coons, Bellingham WA
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2/18/03
Lord of the Universe, we are before you today humbled and puzzled.
We are humbled by the world=s loss of a man who served as a symbol
of goodness, who though from a different culture and raised in
a different faith than most of us, taught us that all humans have
the same need for peace and good will among men. Help our leaders
and those of other nations follow the example of King Hussein
in their quest for a united world where we can find comfort for
the poor, opportunity for all, and peace.
On another matter, may we ask you to give us some sign of your
purpose? You have reminded us recently that you ARE in charge,
and there are things we cannot change and you have humbled us.
The torrents, the gusts, and the rest of your recent offerings
to us by your bounteous nature are, to be bold, getting a little
much! If your point is to show us your authority, we acknowledge
it; if you desire to demonstrate your inscrutability, we are convinced,
and if your goal is to help us wash away all our misdeeds, we
are almost down the drain ourselves!
Thank you for your lessons, oh Lord. We are, however, ready for
a different example of your strength. We humbly beg you for an
equal demonstration of your ability to bring us sunshine.
Amen.
Joseph D. Coons, Bellingham WA
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2/18/03
Lord of the Universe:
Tonight, from two democratic nations which prove that a border
can be shared for centuries in peace, we are men and women gathered
in the spirit and support of Rotary International, our own Clubs,
and Rotary District 5050.
As we enjoy our fellowship, help us to remember how fortunate
we are to be able to serve our brothers and sisters around the
world through our great organization, and its astonishing Foundation.
That we are prosperous, enables us to give of our material wealth.
That we are free, enables us to work together on projects. That
we are generous, enables us to work together to achieve amazing
successes. And that we are dedicated, brings us together as our
Club=s leaders and workers so that we may continue with these
efforts.
Guide us in our service. Keep us well so we can serve. And bless
those peoples around the world who our touched by our works, so
that they, too, can have the joy of a fulfilling life, full of
good health and companionship, in surroundings that are beneficial
to all.
Amen.
Joseph D. Coons Bellingham WA
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2/18/03
Lord of the Universe, this is a time in our year when many of
us turn our attention to the spiritual side of our lives, when
we consider what light we will follow . . .
Help us to understand that no matter what name it is given and
in what language it is expressed, that philosophy called AThe
Golden Rule@ is indeed the most true guidepost by which we should
mark the trails of our existence here . . .
Remind us that if that concept were universally held as a standard,
by the people of all nations and faiths, there would be no wars,
no hunger, no crimes one against the other . . .
We pray that you continue to bless the work that we as Rotarians,
from many nations and of many faiths, do to help those less fortunate,
for we believe that one manifestation of this Golden Rule is in
our Rotary motto, AService Above Self@.
Please give us an international time of peace on earth, good
will towards men, inspired by our great leaders and philosophers
who themselves were inspired by you, Oh Lord.
And finally, we ask you to guide those who, as our government
leaders, make their daily decisions that affect us, so that their
efforts, whether international or local, shall be motivated by
this same great rule of charity and good will.
Thank you, Lord.
Amen.
Joseph D. Coons, Bellingham WA
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10-1 written by Chris Offer, Governor 5040/99-00
Let us take a moment to remember all the religions represented
in the Rotary family,
Let us also recall that when we were invited to join our Rotary
clubs we were not asked are you a Protestant, a Hindu, a Muslim,
a Jew, a Catholic or a Buddhist, or a Sikh. You were not asked
because all religions are welcome in the Rotary family.
Please join me in a moment of reflection and thanks with these
words
With our friends beside us,
And no person beneath us,
With the bonds of Rotary Between us,
And our worries behind us,
With our goals before us,
And no task beyond us,
With a thirst for knowledge,
And a dream of a Polio free world,
We are thankful for our Rotary friends and the meal we are about
to share.
Thank You, Shalom, Ah-men
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Le envío nuestra invocación del Rotary Valle de
Caracas, ubicado en Caracas, Venezuela, Distrito 4370.
Señor,
unos quieren y no pueden,
otros pueden y no quieren;
nosotros, que queremos y podemos,
infinitas gracias te damos,
Señor.
Rotariamente, Biagio Maccarone G. maccarone@telcel.net.ve
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The paths of our lives are filled with peaks and valleys.
When we are on the top of our peaks, we become so self satisfied
that we tend to ignore the things of importance. When we are in
a valley, we feel a sense of abandon and again can focus only on
what is directly ahead. Remind us, as You do in nature, that above
the tree line the mountain-tops are barren and only in the valleys
can we find the opportunity for true growth.
Ronald Hanson, Rotary Club of Cloquet, MN USA D5580
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Invocation for Rotary meeting
(script BEFORE silent invocation) composed by Bob Summers, Past
President, RC
Fort Myers SOUTH D-6960
Will you please bow your head with me.
Let us pray silently together, each one of us, according to our
individual beliefs.
Let us offer thanks for our food, blessings for one another.
Let us be a source of hope for those in need,
and contentment for those who are lonely.
Let us give gratitude for our opportunity to serve Rotary.
Let the feelings of love, kindness, and a well directed, yet gentle
spirit always be reflected in our actions.
(30 seconds) Amen
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Blessed are you, Lord, God of Creation. You feed the
whole world with your goodness, your grace, your kindness and your
mercy. You nourish and sustain us and do good to all. Bless this
food to our use and us to your Rotary service. Amen.
— Dr. William Dougherty, Rotary Club of Elmira Heights
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May those assembled here today enjoy the many offerings
of Rotary. May we abide by the rules we have established, those
of trust, fellowship and ethics, and may we place Service above
Self, in our daily endeavors. And may we always test ourselves and
our efforts to be sure they are the truth, good for all concerned,
of benefit to mankind, and provide peace ands understanding.
Ken from Wisconsin
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Let My Eyes Be Opened
Let me awake and see the beauty
that surrounds me all around.
Let me hear the singing birds
make their wonderful sound.
Let me thank God for my health
that has been good to me so far.
Let all my dreams come true
when wishing upon a star.
Let me be thankful for friendship
that was lovingly given me.
Let me never forget the caring
that was made for me to see.
Betty Opheim, Fargo West Rotary, Fargo, North Dakota District
5580
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It is good to recognize how different we are. Our talents, our
dreams, our backgrounds, our occupations. And it is good to know
that when You created each of us, You broke the mold. No one is
exactly like anyone else. Even our thumb print and our voice track
tell us how unique we are. Yet, we thank You that we can take
these differences and mobilize them for the good of Rotary and
our community. In our differences we can think the same thoughts
and move together toward a common goal. Bless us as we meet together.
Thank You for our individuality and also for our common bond.
/I suspect this is already in print./
Phil Morris - Rotary Club of Furnitureland, High Point, North
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Today we pray that we may receive Your special blessing
because we are committed to be a real service organization to help
humankind. May each of us in our daily routine come to know the
joy of caring and sharing with others not as fortunate as we are.
May our motto that includes serving, caring and sharing be for us
life service as well as lip service.
file://adapted from a published prayer//
Phil Morris – Furnitureland Rotary Club, High Point, NC
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Help us today to see our opening prayer as conversation,
really believing You hear us and care about what we say. Remind
us that You are a perfect Father who listens carefully to His children
and desires the very best for us. We thank You for this family of
Rotarians, to which we belong and ask that You bless us as we meet
together.
file://adapted from a published prayer//
Phil Morris - Rotary Club of Furnitureland, High Point, NC
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Teach us true discrimination. We need to be able to
tell the difference between faith and fatalism, between activity
and accomplishment, between humility and an inferiority omplex,
between a quick salute to You and a real prayer that seeks to find
out Your will. Father, as we make a new beginning this week, teach
us true discrimination!
adapted from a printed source...
Phil Morris - Rotary Club of Furnitureland
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We pray for the bifocals of faith so that we can see
the concern of the moment right nder our noses, but also see, further
on, ...Your purpose, in working out Your plan, in the world You
have made. We pray for the ability to see at close range -- our
part, as a group to become solution-partners in the giving of time
and effort and money, and we pray also for the ability to see clearly
in the distance, those who are in partnership with us. May we look
with new vision through these bifocals of faith and then act.
adapted from a printed source...
Phil Morris - Rotary Club of Furnitureland
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"Will you please bow your head with me.
Let us pray silently together, each of us according to our individual
beliefs.
Let us offer thanks for our food, blessings for one another and
for
absent friends
Let us be a source of hope for those in need, and contentment for
those
who are lonely.
Let us give gratitude for our opportunity to serve Rotary.
Let the feelings of love, kindness, and a well-directed, yet gentle
spirit always be reflected in our actions."
THEN FOLLOWS A 30 SECOND PAUSE AND THE ANNOUNCEMENT "amen"
For your consideration and the comments of all contributors heard
or unheard, on this network Jim Gray
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God of the Universe,
Since we are not conscious enough to fathom your ebb and flow,
help us then to bring our best efforts to what we can know.
To love our friends and family.
To treat our employees and fellow workers fairly.
To seek justice.
To help those in need.
To be the best that we can be,
And to live by the four way test:
Of all the things we think, say or do:
Is it the TRUTH?
Is it FAIR to all concerned?
Will it build GOODWILL and BETTER FRIENDSHIPS?
Will it be BENEFICIAL to all concerned?
Amen
Invocation given by Rotarian Len Scheffler December 7, 1993 Rotary
Club of Columbia-Northwest Columbia, MO D-6050
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A `grace' requested follows:
For friends, food, fun and fellowship, especially the fellowship
of Rotary we get our scinere thanks. May these tokens of your
bounty nourish our physical bodies in preparation for the challenges
that are ours in Rotary. Keep us always mindful of the needs of
others and keep us always atuned to our calling in Rotary. We
ask these things in the Name of your eternal truth.
Amen.
If this is helpful, its yours.
Yours in Rotary
(Rev.) Kenneth D. Benner Rotarian, Rotary Club of Strathcona
Sunrise Comox Valley, British Columbia
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Graces
We are grateful, Our Father,for the privilege of training ourselves
for service.Give us open minds, a clear understanding and a steady
purpose to make the most of our talents, and lead us into the
fields of work where we can best serve Thee.
Amen
For food to nourish the body and conversation to enrich the mind,
may the Lord make us truly thankful.
Amen
O Lord and giver of all good
we thank you for our daily food
May Rotary friends and Rotary ways
Help us to serve thee all our Days
Amen
YIR, Adolf
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Lord as u blessed the loaves and fishes
Bless this food upon our dishes
Like the sugar for our tea
May our lives be stirred by Thee
Tom Telfer Rotary Club of London West District 6330 London, Ontario
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A Prayer of Thanksgiving
We offer you this special prayer this year, dear Lord, because
we want it to be everlasting. We do not, like too many times in
the past, wish to soon forget these words of thoughts that we,
heartfelt, and under no sense of obligation, now present to you.
Please bless this abundant food which, once living, has been
sacrificed so that our bodies can be nourished with its life giving
minerals and vitamins. From this meal forward, please guide all
of our physical actions so that we can continue to claim worthiness
of such a sacrifice.
Please remind us daily to use the time you have given us to
add something of value to the day. Please help us to realize that
this added value is especially beneficial to us when, without
obligation or expectation of payback, it is freely given away
to those who are less fortunate. Please show us that a smile,
a wave, a helping hand-seemingly simplistic things do, add much
more value to the day than we normally realize.
Impress upon us that everything on your earth and in your universe
are intricately interconnected and that we humans need to show
more respect for these connections of your design. Please foster
our internal growth so that we will show more compassion for the
plights of all of the living things you have placed around us.
Please make us comprehend that the various talents you have allowed
each of us are gifts from you and must be shared with others and
with proper humility. Please encourage us to remove from our minds
the many emotional blinders that daily keep us from seeing the
overwhelming beauty surrounding us.
Finally, we fervently ask that you widely open our hearts and
shine your light of love into the depth of our souls so that we
will truly see that part of You which you, dear Lord, in your
infinite wisdom have placed within us all. Please show us that
if we can just sensitize ourselves to your Love which, unknowingly
to most of us, continuously circulates throughout our bodies,
then and only then, will we be able to spontaneously metamorphose
into radiant beacons which can then happily reflect back to others
just a fraction of the overflowing warmth of your all encompassing
Love. Though we now bask daily in this Love, we seldom allow ourselves
to truly see and feel it. Please make us see!!
Jeff Mabe "A Sincere Gift of Giving Never Travels in a
Straight Line."
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In those many years during which I was the " designated
Prayer" [ I am an episcopal Priest, now retired] I generally
began "Baruch attai Adonai" "Blessed are you O
God" and then followed with any specifics I felt needed at
that particular meeting [ such as illness, etc] then blessed God
for allowing us to meet together in " fellowship, in peace
and in service" Thanked God for our blessings at His hand,
gave thanks for the food and the chance to serve all His creatures
and asked God to continuously remind us of the needs of those
people who depend upon us " I never used the name of Jesus,
Our club had many good Jewish members. It did NOT, however have
Moslem or Buddhist or any other religious body represented and
so, unless we had guests I didn't recognize who could have been
other than Christian or Jewish I did not especially attempt to
include blessings from those disciplines [ although I know some].
Occasionally I would vary by using Native American blessings such
ast the " Four Winds " blessings . Thanks to my age
and infirmities I am now only an occasional prayer and others
have taken over. If you woul dlike the exact wording of special
graces [ although I believe that my words wouldn't fit your particularities]
I would be happy to recollect some for you. Good luck and God
bless you.
YIR Papa
Bob Mason
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As each of us give our own thanks
according to our personal persuasions
let us dwell on some thoughts that bind us together:
"You've blessed us with friends
and laughter and fun
With rain that's as soft as the light from the sun ---
You've blessed us with stars to brighten each night
You've given us help to know wrong from right --
You've given us so much
please, Lord give us too,
A heart that is always
Grateful to you."
Amen
An Irish Prayer. Tim Creedon PDG Rotary Club of Phoenix # 100,
Arizona
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